Michael Hughes Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Washington, United States

Responsible for leading the investment management efforts for Verus’ discretionary consulting (OCIO) business. This includes partnering with the CIO and Strategic Research to determine strategic and tactical views, overseeing OCIO portfolios, and customizing investment solutions to meet unique client needs. Ensures the effective implementation of portfolio strategies and the selection of top-tier investment managers across public and private markets.In addition to managing and mentoring the OCIO team, key initiatives are driven to build scale and enhance processes. Actively contributes to business development by engaging with clients and prospects through presentations and meetings. Also manages a small set of complex client accounts, ensuring their goals are met and performance aligns with their objectives.

Seattle, Wa

Oversee the investment activities for large and sensitive high-net-worth personal trusts, individual investment portfolios, and endowment funds. Responsible for developing, recommending, executing and reporting on investment programs designed to achieve each client’s unique investment goals and make the appropriate revisions as those goals change.  Maintain and cultivate strong relationships with clients, trustees, consultants, trust officers, bankers, business development officers, and external attorneys to ensure clear communication of client needs and effective coordination of portfolio activities. Participate in thought leadership presentations, educational opportunities, and practice-hosted symposiums and events. Engage in business development activities, including contributing to marketing content and taking part in new business presentations

Assembled and led a team of investment professionals to create and provide expert investment solutions for our clients. Redesigned Cornerstone’s strategic asset allocation, forecasting, portfolio risk management, and client investment policy statement/portfolio design construction processes, resulting in increased efficiencies and more uniform portfolio construction.  Guided our portfolios through the global financial crisis by sticking to our investment philosophy and introducing new solutions. Giving our clients confidence to stay invested and maintain portfolio proportionality, resulting in a recovery in just 13 months, nearly twice as fast as a standard 60/40 portfolio. Led the creation and launch of five proprietary mutual funds, managing over $2.2 billion in assets. This streamlined portfolio construction, reduced costs, and ensured consistent deployment across client accounts. Led the creation of Private Equity and Private Real Estate funds with over $400 million in commitments. This provided clients with cost-effective access to top fund managers, vintage year diversification, and consistency across larger accounts.

Greater Seattle Area

Developed investment solutions for high-net-worth trusts, endowments, foundations, and individuals. Managed sensitive accounts in collaboration with attorneys and consultants. Conducted due diligence and selected investment managers. Analyzed investment performance, managed vendors, and completed special projects to deliver comprehensive investment solutions.

Greater Seattle Area

Lead portfolio manager overseeing mutual funds and institutional separate accounts,, ensuring performance and compliance, and communicating strategies to clients and colleagues. Revitalized Safeco’s underperforming fixed income product. Chaired the Fixed Income Strategy Committee. Mentored investment analysts, supporting their development. Actively supported business development efforts by serving as a subject matter expert in finals presentations and industry conferences.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Managed core fixed income mutual and common trust funds. Served as a senior member of the fixed income strategy committee. Monitored and evaluated securities and markets. Formulated, communicated and executed investment strategy. Reviewed performance and monitored compliance. > Developed and implemented a well-defined fixed income investment methodology across company’s thirteen-state system which resulted in consistent product delivery, portfolio construction, and performance.> Worked as part of a team to consolidate vast number of overlapping proprietary investment funds, reducing number of funds by more than half, bettering performance and profitability due to economies of scale and better trade executions.> Aided regional portfolio managers by making recommendations specific to separately managed client portfolios, producing better performance and consistent portfolio structure.> Adept public speaker, responsible for communicating fixed income investment methodology, strategy and results lowering account turnover and increasing assets under management.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Managed a wide range of collective and common trust funds and discretionary portfolios for institutional clients, including public entities, foundations, and corporations. Served as voting member of Investment Standards and Policy Committee. Utilized active and quantitative investment methodologies to construct portfolios of government, corporate, asset- and mortgage-backed securities. > Communicated fixed income investment performance, strategy and financial market outlook to prospective and existing clientele which lowered account turnover and increased assets under management.> Managed $2.0 Billion in STIF and SEC registered money market fund assets for three months, resulting in a smooth transition until new portfolio manager could be hired. Maintained strict portfolio compliance and outperformed the respective Donoghue’s Money Fund average.> Produced investment performance consistently exceeded benchmark

Greater Los Angeles Area

After a variety of mergers and spinoffs, Barclays bought Lehman Brothers in Sept. of 2008Spent most of my time as Shearson Lehman Hutton on the sales and trading desk as an in-house municipal bond wholesaler covering brokers in branches in California, Arizona and Hawaii.

Mba, Finance, Phi Beta Kappa

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Finance And Financial Management Services

Activities and Societies: Magna Cum Laude

Education record